New brand, logo, and digital presence mark the start of the biggest year of horse racing in Virginia history; Will debut at Virginia Derby on March 14, 2026

NEW KENT, Va. (February 12, 2025)— Colonial Downs Racetrack today launched a new brand, logo, and digital presence to mark the start of a new era for thoroughbred racing in Virginia. As Virginia’s premier thoroughbred racetrack prepares for the biggest year of racing in its history, this new brand identity represents the excitement, growth, and promise of Virginia’s equine industry while evoking the history and timelessness of Virginia’s oldest sport.

The new Colonial Downs brand will make its debut at the upcoming Virginia Derby spring meet March 12-14, 2026. Tickets are on sale now at www.ColonialDowns.com for the Virginia Derby on March 14. All reserved tickets for this Kentucky Derby qualifying race are sold out, while a limited number of general admission tickets are still available for just $5 or $75 for a loaded ticket including food and drink vouchers.

“With a record number of race days, growing crowds and purses, a Kentucky Derby qualifier race, and some of the most passionate fans around, Virginia is stepping into the sport’s global spotlight,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing Operations at Colonial Downs. “This exciting new identity for Colonial Downs honors Virginia’s rich history of thoroughbred racing while inviting new fans and longtime enthusiasts to come experience the thrill of live racing at Virginia’s premier thoroughbred racetrack. It’s a new look for a new era, and we invite you to be a part of it!”

Colonial Downs’ new logo features a striding thoroughbred whose shape mirrors that of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its forward momentum embodies the growth and excitement around Virginia’s growing equine industry and the thrill of live racing. The five strands of the horse’s mane represent five regions of the state: Southwest Virginia, Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the Shenandoah Valley.

The track’s new signature colors also carry significance. Colonial Downs Copper represents the sport’s enduring connections to the earth and the dirt of the racing surface, while Regal Navy represents the noble history of horse racing and the steady strength of both horse and jockey.

Beginning with the Virginia Derby Spring Meet from March 12-14, fans will see these new colors, logos, and brand elements on signage, merchandise, promotional materials, at the track, and around the country.

Colonial Downs has also refreshed its digital presence to prepare for the upcoming season with an updated, user-friendly website featuring race schedules, promotions, and track information, as well as updated Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts.

The updated brand identity builds on the acquisition of Colonial Downs Racetrack by industry leader Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) in late 2022. Since then, CDI has invested millions of dollars to elevate Colonial Downs into a premier racing venue and to reinvent the guest experience as a social entertainment destination for all ages, delivering higher-profile races, increased purses, expanded race days with enhanced weekend offerings, special programming for families, upgraded grandstand guest amenities, and significant facility enhancements for racing stakeholders.

The 2026 race season at Colonial Downs in New Kent County will be the biggest year of racing in Virginia’s history. The track will host a record 48 days of live racing including the prestigious Virginia Derby—the Commonwealth’s only Kentucky Derby qualifying race—on March 14, 2026.

Tickets for the Virginia Derby are now on sale at www.ColonialDowns.com and going fast. All reserved seats for this iconic event have been sold, while $5 General Admission and $75 “Loaded” General Admission tickets with food and drink tickets continue to sell fast.

Following the March meet, the racing season will continue with 45 days of live racing each Thursday through Sunday from June 25 through a special day of racing on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. The summer meet will include the annual Colonial Downs Festival of Racing with the iconic Arlington Million, the Old Dominion Derby, and additional high-profile graded stakes races throughout the summer.

Season tickets and individual race day tickets for the entire 2026 season are also available at www.ColonialDowns.com.

Throughout the season guests will find a variety of promotions, giveaways, and food and drink specials for racing enthusiasts, new fans, and families.

When it comes to steeplechase racing, Sean Clancy has pretty much done it all. He was a champion steeplechase jockey, bought horses at sales and put together numerous partnerships for flat and steeplechase horses. He rode Hokan to a 1998 victory in the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Steeplechase. He competed in over 1,000 jump races, won 152, and his horses bankrolled over $2.9 million in purses from a riding career that extended from 1986 to 2000.  He is also a three-time Eclipse award winning journalist, having written about the sport for decades in both flat and jump publications, including his own. And now, he is uniquely poised as a leading candidate for an Eclipse Award Thursday in the Top Steeplechase Horse category.    

With purse winnings of $190,500 from six starts last year, the prize star of his 2025 stable — Cool Jet — is one of three horses nominated as Top Steeplechase Horse of 2025. The 10-year-old Jet Away gelding won three graded stakes including the Grade 1 Commonwealth Cup at Great Meadow during the Virginia Gold Cup’s spring card which helped him secure the Lonesome Glory Award as the sport’s leading earner. The Jack Fisher trainee also captured a pair of Grade 3 stakes — the Mariann de Tejada Memorial at Foxfield & the Noel Laing at Montpelier. The other two Eclipse-nominated horses are Swore and Zanahiyr.   

“Cool Jet had a terrible year last year,” said Clancy, who owns and operates Riverdee Stables with his wife Anne. “Everything went wrong. But to see how he came back in 2025 was a real thrill. He tries hard. He’s an overachiever and is just a neat horse.” 

After taking third at the Blue Ridge Hunt meet April 12 last year, Cool Jet came back two weeks later and was a runner-up at Foxfield. Just one week later, he wired the field in the Grade1, $150,000 Commonwealth Stakes, crossing 7-1/4 lengths the best with veteran rider Bernie Dalton up. “Only in steeplechase racing can you wheel a 9-year-old back in a week, put a 57-year-old jockey on and win a Grade 1,” said a smiling Clancy. 

He has operated Sean Clancy Bloodstock and the Riverdee Stable since the early 2000’s, but the 2025 season may go to the front of his highlight reel. Riverdee earned its first ever NSA leading owner championship this past year with 13 jump wins from 54 starts, good for $516,800 in purse money. 

Other stablemates contributing to Riverdee’s dream season include William O’Keefe Memorial Stakes winner Ethics —- who tied for leading 3-year-old NSA honors — and a trio of horses who won two jump races each — Potus (Middleburg, Pennsylvania Hunt Cup), Cyber Ninja (Colonial Downs & Shawan Downs) and Vintage Year (Foxfield, Old Dominion Hounds). Single win seasons were authored by De La Cruz and Welshman — both at Fair Hill — along with Roja Redemption (Colonial) and Penicillin Success (Blue Ridge Hunt) 

“What a year,” said Clancy. “I’m very proud of the trainers, jockeys, team members and partners. And thanks most of all to the horses. Cool Jet anchored the team. His Grade 1 win was the highlight of an amazing season. Winning the owner’s title has been a goal of ours and it’s been fun to accomplish it.”

“We’ve dabbled and owned some horses over the years but really ramped it up about six years ago,” Clancy continued. “Riverdee wasn’t meant to be a career initially. I’d find a few horses and had a few partners but that was pretty much it. My wife is the one who really pushed it though. She could see the growth potential, excitement, satisfaction and competitive side of it. Once we started to get more partners, we were able to acquire some better horses.”

Riverdee’s big initial step forward came in 2018 — in a coffee shop in Middleburg. Clancy sat alone at a table listening in on a horse auction taking place in England. He thought highly of a horse named Gibralfaro but assumed he might go for as much as 100,000 pounds — which was way out of his budget. Clancy found himself going back and forth with another bidder though at a much lower price than he first thought. When the gavel hit, he had a 28,000-pound purchase — but had no clients lined up at that point. Thanks to Clancy’s trainer, Jack Fisher, he acquired some clients, and a very consistent horse. Gibralfaro went on to record nine “in-the-money” finishes in 17 starts and provide Riverdee with purse winnings of $268,300.   

“He won a Grade 2. He ran four years. He did everything for us. Every stable has a critical horse,” said Clancy. “With every trainer, every owner and every jockey, there is that pivotal horse. You look back years later and realize that was the one. That was ours. If we didn’t end up with that horse, we wouldn’t have some of the clients we have now. That horse got us on our way. I was very nervous at purchase time, but it turned out to be very rewarding.”

 “Riverdee has a constantly evolving ownership group,” continued Clancy, who operates the business out of Middleburg, Virginia where he and his family reside. “There are more partners from Virginia in the ownership group than from any other state. Initially, we found lots of people that enjoyed fox hunts in Middleburg but they didn’t know how to get involved in a partial horse ownership program. Investors and fans have since bought small shares in these horses. We actually have more partners that have never owned a racehorse before than ones who previously had. They found a way to get involved and enjoy it.”

Clancy’s role in Riverdee helps fuel a competitive spirit that riding horses used to offer. “You don’t ride races for as long as I did and not miss the competition. Owning horses serves as a gap to that competitive outlet. In the ownership of horses, it’s your team, instincts, education and knowledge that goes into it. It’s your life’s work. I get a kick out of that aspect.”   

Clancy acknowledged earlier in life that a career riding horses wouldn’t last forever. After graduating college in 1992 from the University of Delaware, he worked for Hall of Fame steeplechase trainer Janet Elliott in 1993 and soon after, reached that conclusion. 

“It became so clear to me that I needed something else to do other than being in the barn and riding in races. I Ioved it, but needed to do more. I knew riding races would be a short-lived career. My older brother Joe was a journalism major. I got fired up about the lack of steeplechase coverage at the time and ran an idea by Joe about starting a periodical dedicated to jump races.”

The publication “Steeplechase Times” was born in 1994, grew from there and lasted for almost 20 years. 

“It was baptism by fire,” said Clancy. “That was the beginning. I wasn’t a writer, Joe was. I didn’t know what I was doing but my brother was a mentor, knew the craft and helped me to get better at it. I knew at that point I could have a career as a writer.” 

Seven years later, the brothers Clancy introduced a second project, “Saratoga Special”, in 2001. After freelancing for Blood Horse, Daily Racing Form and all the trade publications, Clancy now had two publications going to press.

“I’m very proud of Steeplechase Times,” he said. “That was the first one and if it wasn’t for that, we couldn’t have expanded. Rolling out a daily publication like “Saratoga Special” is challenging, rewarding, energetic and fulfilling. We’ve done it for 25 years now. As a writer, that’s a real kick. You’re at deadline every night. At one point, we put out 35 issues during the Saratoga meet.” 

“I went from the thrill of riding a race to the thrill of writing a story and meeting a deadline,” he added. “Writing and riding horses are similar in my case. I always say to jockeys, ‘You’re never going to find anything to replace the rush of riding and winning a race, but you’ve got to find something that gives you the feeling of meeting a challenge. For me, writing was very much that. Winning three Eclipse awards for my writing is close to winning a Grade 1.”

Clancy stays busy in Virginia. He has served on various boards over the years and is currently serving a Board term with the Virginia HBPA.  

“Virginia is a very strong state for steeplechase racing,” said Clancy. “I was a little bit involved in getting the Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point meet several NSA sanctioned races to create another hybrid-type meet in addition to ones that were already in place at the Blue Ridge and Loudoun Hunts. That is a big deal for horsemen and from a stability and growth standpoint, are really important. And at Colonial Downs, the opportunity we have there is key. I ran Cyber Ninja there last summer. It was an expensive purchase for me, but to be able to compete and win a $60,000 maiden race over jumps there is incredible.”  

                                                                         -30-

Virginia’s 2026 racing schedule is set for all host venues and breeds including steeplechase races — which kick off the season slate with a series of weekend Point-to-Point (PTP) meets beginning February 28. The Rappahannock Hunt PTP at The Hill in Boston, Virginia ushers in festivities — the first of seven spring meets slated. Three of the seven are hybrid meets and feature a combination of NSA sanctioned jump races along with traditional PTP events.  

Following Rappahannock’s kickoff event, the schedule continues with the Warrenton Hunt PTP March 14 at the Airlee Race Course, the Piedmont Fox Hounds PTP March 21 at the Salem Course in Upperville, the Old Dominion Hounds PTP April 4 at the Ben Venue Farm in Ben Venue, the Blue Ridge Hunt PTP April 11 at the Woodley Farm in Berryville, the Loudoun Hunt PTP April 19 at Morven Park in Leesburg, and the Middleburg Hunt PTP April 26 at Glenwood Park. The first five PTP’s are on Saturdays and the last two fall on Sundays. Sanctioned NSA races will be mixed in at the Old Dominion, Blue Ridge and Loudoun Hunt PTPs. 

“The Point-to-Point meets are more important than people realize,” said Don Yovanovich, President of the Virginia PTP Association. “I consider it the ‘Major League’s Minor League’. Without them, we wouldn’t see riders and horses the way we do in the NSA races that follow. These meets provide education and experience. The three hybrid meets we offer have had a positive influence as well. More NSA trainers are coming through than there previously were as a result and they have been surprised at how well run the meets are. The officials and stewards are NSA qualified. We get the races off on time. And the same paddock crew works at every PTP meet.”

The 2026 spring NSA jump campaign itself kicks off with the Middleburg Spring Races April 18 at Glenwood Park followed by the Foxfield Spring Races April 25 in Charlottesville and the 101st running of the Virginia Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow in The Plains on May 2. The fall schedule includes return engagements at Foxfield (October 4), Middleburg (October 10) and Great Meadow (October 24) along with the Montpelier Hunt Races on November 7.     

Colonial Downs will again play a big role in Virginia’s summer steeplechase program but the exact format of how and when the races will be presented is not yet finalized. In 2025, the New Kent track kicked off many of its Thursday cards with a trio of pari-mutuel jump races in the morning which were followed by the regular slate of afternoon flat races. 

Colonial Downs racing secretary Dan Bork has released the condition book for its 2026 three-day spring meet which runs from Thursday, March 12 through Saturday, March 14. The meet is highlighted by the $500,000 Virginia Derby and $250,000 Virginia Oaks on March 14, which are points races on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” and “Road to the Kentucky Oaks,” respectively.

The Virginia Derby is carded at 1-1/8 miles on the dirt while the Virginia Oaks, also on dirt, will be contested at 1-1/16 miles. Each race offers 50 points to its winner while the next four finishers will receive 25, 15, 10 and 5 points on a sliding scale toward the appropriate race. American Promise and Render Judgement, the top two finishers in the 2025 Virginia Derby went on to participate in Kentucky Derby 151. In addition, the 1-2 finishers from the 2025 Virginia Oaks, Fondly and Early On, both started in Kentucky Oaks 151.

While the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks are expected to attract top 3-year-olds from across the country, an expanded handicap and stakes schedule for both Virginia-restricted and open runners has been added to the spring schedule.

Two $100,000 open company one-mile stakes for older runners have been added to the Derby Day undercard — the Sandy Bottom for fillies & mares and the open Royal New Kent. Returning are two overnight handicaps for Virginia-restricted runners: the $150,000 Stellar Wind, a six-furlong dash for older fillies & mares and the $150,000 Boston, a seven-furlong race for older horses that will headline the Friday, March 13 card. The 2025 Boston was won by multiple G1 stakes winner Book’em Danno. The $100,000 Golden Horseshoe Handicap, a 1-3/8 miles marathon for older horses, tops the opening day Thursday, March 12 card.

Nominations for all stakes and handicap races will close Wednesday, February 25 with entries being taken one week prior to the run date. Maiden Special Weight races will go for $75,000 for open runners and $93,750 for Virginia-restricted horses. A firstlevel allowance race carries an $80,000 purse and the Virginia-restricted version is worth $100,000. The condition book is available at colonialdowns.com. 

A Virginia-bred horse has appeared in each of the first three pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager which were available on Halloween and Thanksgiving weekends — and will also be available on Martin Luther King holiday weekend which runs from Friday January 16 – Sunday January 18. It’s Our Time, Secured Freedom and Crossingthechannel made the list of 39 individual 3-year-olds that fans were able to wager on. 

Double Down Stables’ It’s Our Time raised plenty of eyebrows when he powered home to a dominating 17-length victory in his career bow August 16 in a $100,000 maiden special weight at Saratoga. The Not This Time colt followed up with a fourth in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes October 4 at Aqueduct and fifth in a $127,000 allowance November 29 at Churchill. The first-time out winner was bred by Amy Moore’s South Gate Farm and is trained by Tom Amoss. A $425,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, It’s Our Time was included in Pool #1 (46-1) & Pool #2 (70-1). 

Secured Freedom, fresh off a 4-1/2 length maiden special weight win at Santa Anita December 28, appeared in Pool #3. The son of Practical Joke was best in the $70,000, 6 1/2-furlong race with Kazushi Kimura up. The winner was bred by Audley Farm Equine, trained by Tim Yakteen and is owned by Pierre & Lesley Amestoy and Roger Beasley. In his only other start, he finished a respectable fourth in a maiden special weight November 22 at Del Mar.   

Trainer Mike Trombetta’s 3-year-old colt Crossingthechannel scored a tight maiden breaking win at Aqueduct January 4 and was also included in Pool #3. The son of Omaha Beach was a neck better than White Smoke Rising at the wire in that $80,000 six-furlong race. The winner was bred by Larry Johnson, ridden by Mychel Sanchez and is owned by Johnson’s Estate, Mike Trombetta and R.D.M. Racing Stable. In his two prior maiden special weight outings, he finished second in both — December 13 at Aqueduct & November 8 at Laurel.   

Congratulations to several Virginia-connected horses who were nominated for 2025 Eclipse Awards in several different categories. Riverdee Stables’ 10-year-old gelding Cool Jet is a finalist in the Top Steeplechase Horse category. The son of Jet Away had three wins —all in graded stakes — in six starts with earnings of $190,500. The Jack Fisher trainee captured the Grade 1 Commonwealth Cup at Great Meadow and a pair of Grade 3 stakes — the Mariann de Tejada Memorial at Foxfield & the Noel Laing at Montpelier. 

Cool Jet was the top performer in Riverdee’s stable and helped them to be the leading National Steeplechase Association (NSA) owner in 2025. “I’m very proud of our horses, trainers, teams and partners,” said Riverdee’s Sean Clancy. “It’s been a goal of ours and was fun to accomplish. We had always dabbled and owned some horses but really ramped it up six years ago. Once we started to get more partners, we were able to acquire some better horses.”

2024 Virginia Derby winner Deterministic is one of three nominated in the Top Male Turf Horse division. The 5-year-old son of Liam’s Map won a pair of Grade 1 stakes last year — the Fourstardave and Manhattan — in addition to the Grade 2 Fort Marcy Stakes. Deterministic’s win at Colonial Downs came in the final turf running of the Virginia Derby. The $500,000 stakes was switched to dirt in 2025. The Miguel Clement trainee bankrolled over $1.1 million from just four starts in 2025.   

Virginia-Certified gelding Book’em Danno is one of three in the running for Top Male Sprinter honors. The now 5-year-old son of Bucchero spent his six-month Virginia residency — before he started racing — at Gracie Bloodstock in Middleburg. He was an impressive 4-for-5 last year that included Grade 1, 2 & 3 stakes wins along with a victory in the $150,000 Boston Handicap at Colonial Downs. The Derek Ryan trainee bankrolled $817,200 in 2025 and has career earnings of over $1.8 million. 

Great news about Secretariat’s Meadow Stable is below, but just a reminder to mark your calendars – Secretariat’s annual birthday celebration has been scheduled for Saturday March 28 in the Plaza around Ashland’s beautiful bronze “Secretariat Racing Into History” monument! This free family-style event offers more activities for kids, more vendors and food trucks, more exclusive Secretariat merchandise and a new attraction guaranteed to bring many smiles – the MINI horses from the Caroline County 4-H Triple Crown Club. More details are at secretariatforvirginia.org.

Nearly 350 acres of farmland where the legendary Triple Crown champion Secretariat frolicked as a colt are now protected forever by a conservation easement held by the Capital Region Land Conservancy. Known as “The Cove,” the low-lying pasture bordered by the North Anna River was the “nursery” for the broodmares and foals of Christopher Chenery’s renowned Meadow Stable, founded in 1936. The Cove’s rich grasses nurtured many other celebrated Thoroughbreds such as Riva Ridge, who won the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and the eminent broodmare, Somethingroyal, dam of Secretariat. In fact, The Cove was instrumental in establishing The Meadow as “an empire built on broodmares.”

Today, thanks to the generosity of Kevin Engel of Engel Family Farms, who purchased The Cove in 2023, the historic land will remain dedicated to agricultural use.

“Purchasing The Cove and restoring it to its heyday when Secretariat was running around on it has been a dream of mine for many years,” said Kevin Engel. “It is so important for my business to secure farmland from the threats of big warehouses, solar panels, data centers, and housing subdivisions but also for my grandchildren to be on land that is preserved without asphalt and concrete everywhere.”

“Our family has highly valued conservation easements to protect lands. We are so grateful to know that Kevin is carrying forward the stewardship of this historic property and he has seen fit to put a conservation easement on it,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy. “My Mom and Granddad would be so pleased by this action.”

The Cove lies just north of the Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, which was also part of the original Meadow Stable. The Park is the site of the State Fair of Virginia and owned by the Virginia Farm Bureau. Secretariat’s foaling shed and other original barns there are designated state and national historical landmarks.

Mr. Engel’s deep attachment to The Cove originated over 40 years ago when he began his farming career working this land. He started Engel Family Farms with its central office and operations located at Cabin Hill Farm in Hanover County. It has grown to include his wife Denise and children Chris, Casey and Savannah who share ownership of “The Cove” and contribute to the success of the family business. Today, “The Cove” represents a fraction of the 2,167 acres owned by Engel Family Farms and an even smaller share of the 30,000 acres (37 square miles) that the company leases across 21 localities in Virginia and North Carolina where they grow corn, soybeans, milo, maize, wheat, barley, and rye.

With over 200 different landlords, the Engel family is accustomed to working historic properties such as farmland leased from the National Park Service as well as Henrico County at Varina Farm and Wilton. Mr. Engel joined the Board of Capital Region Land Conservancy after being introduced to the organization when it saved the 871-acre Malvern Hill Farm where he had been farming.

When he was named as a 2023 Top Producer of the Year finalist by Farm Journal, Mr. Engel expressed some regret in not having invested more into buying farmland earlier in his career. He is not alone. The United States Census of Agriculture reports 33% of all agricultural acreage in Virginia was leased in 2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also reports that farm real estate values in Virginia increased 10.4% between 2023 and 2024 whereas annual rental rates were $71 per acre for non-irrigated cropland in Caroline County as reported by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.

The conservation easement protects 156 acres of agricultural cropland of which approximately 136 acres are Prime Farmland or Soils of Statewide Significance. The USDA defines Prime Farmland as “land with the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and is also available for these land uses. The soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply are those needed for the soil to economically produce sustained high yields of crops when proper management, including water management, and acceptable farming methods are applied. In general, prime farmland has an adequate and dependable supply of moisture from precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable acidity or alkalinity, an acceptable salt and sodium content, and few or no rocks. The water supply is dependable and of adequate quality. Prime farmland is permeable to water and air. It is not excessively erodible or saturated with water for long periods, and it either is not frequently flooded during the growing season or is protected from flooding.”

The conservation easement also protects 190 acres of forestland. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Natural Heritage Data Explorer (NHDE) and Virginia Conservation Lands Database (VCLD) identifies the forest portion of the property as lying within an ecological core area of general conservation value.

Other protections afforded by the conservation easement on “The Cove” include approximately a half mile (2,420 linear feet) along the North Anna River, which flows into the Pamunkey River and further downstream into the York River and Chesapeake Bay. A riparian buffer is required between the river and the historic dike. All new structures larger than 500 square feet must be constructed within a building envelope located off Signboard Road thus preserving the historic and scenic views for the traveling public along Route 30 (Dawn Boulevard).

“There isn’t anyone more dedicated to preserving working farmland as Kevin Engel and his family, who fully understand the proverb that teaches ‘We Do Not Inherit the Earth from Our Ancestors; We Borrow It from Our Children’”, said Parker C. Agelasto, Executive Director of Capital Region Land Conservancy. “Many future generations will appreciate their generosity to conserve The Cove and preserve the home of Secretariat.”

# # #

About Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC): Capital Region Land Conservancy is dedicated to conserving the natural and historic resources of Virginia’s Richmond region for the benefit of people and nature. The nonprofit land trust serves the City of Richmond and 19 surrounding counties. Since 2005, CRLC has helped protect more than 15,000 acres, including easements on more than 5,000 acres.  www.capitalregionland.org

About Secretariat and Meadow Stable: In 1936, Chris Chenery (1886-1973) purchased 2,798 acres known as “The Meadow” that once belonged to his cousin Dr. Charles Morris (1778-1842) but which had left the family’s ownership decades before. Chenery immediately got to work on restoring a dike that was said to have been built using labor of enslaved people in the 1820s. He also drained “The Cove” to return it to arable land and pasture. Secretariat was born at Meadow Stable on March 30, 1970. His race records in the 1973 Triple Crown have never been broken. His bloodline remains strong today as evidenced by the 2025 Triple Crown races in which every horse was a descendant of Secretariat. For more information, please see www.Secretariat.co and www.SecretariatforVirginia.org

At its December 15 meeting, the Virginia Racing Commission (VRC) approved an expanded and adjusted 48-day live racing season for Colonial Downs Racetrack in 2026. This will be the most live racing days ever held in one season at Colonial in its nearly thirty-year history.

To make live racing more accessible to Virginia race fans and families, each race week throughout the summer will feature an additional day of weekend racing with a new Thursday through Sunday schedule. Standard post time for race days will be 12:30 PM. The 2025 meet featured a Wednesday thru Saturday schedule.

The season will begin with a special three-day Virginia Derby meet on March 12-14 anchored by the $500,000 Derby on Saturday, March 14. After a sold-out 2025 race that drew more than 8,000 race fans to Virginia’s premier thoroughbred racetrack, the stakes will again serve as Virginia’s only Kentucky Derby qualifier race with the winning horse securing a spot in the field for the 152^nd Kentucky Derby at historic Churchill Downs.

Following the March meet, the racing season will continue with 45 days of live racing each Thursday through Sunday from June 25 through a special day of racing on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. The summer meet will include the annual Colonial Downs Festival of Racing with the iconic Arlington Million, the Old Dominion Derby, and additional high-profile graded stakes races throughout the summer. 

“With a Kentucky Derby qualifier, new weekend race days, and the biggest racing schedule in track history, 2026 promises to be an unforgettable season at Colonial Downs,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing Operations. “We cannot wait to welcome horsemen from around the country to Virginia for another season of competition.”

Hopf addressed VRC Commissioners at the meeting and noted some positive takeaways from the 2025 campaign. He said the $6.5 million handle on Virginia Derby Day — the first time the Derby was contested on dirt — was a record and that the top two finishers, American Promise & Render Judgment, went on to compete in the “Run for the Roses”. Tickets for the 2026 Virginia Derby went on sale November 10 and to date, 2,600 tickets have been sold. In comparison, the 2025 edition had 1,100 tickets sold as of February 1 — and it still resulted in an advance sale sellout. 

Hopf said a total of $110 million was bet over this year’s 44-day meet which established a record. A new 40-person backstretch dormitory opened in time for the summer meet which increased horsemen housing capacity to 240 people. Colonial received more stall and dorm applications than there was space for. He praised the efforts of Racing Secretary Dan Bork and the race office staff who improved the track’s overnight programs. Hopf added the track expanded its capacity in the third floor Jockey Club Dining Room from 324 to 524 by removing higher limit HHR terminals to free up space for track attendees.       

When asked about the upcoming meet schedule change — from Wednesday thru Saturday to a Thursday thru Sunday weekly slate instead — Hopf said “It looked like the regular patrons chose either Wednesday or Thursday to attend, but not both days. We felt by switching out Wednesday with Sunday and offering full weekend cards throughout the summer that more fans would be encouraged to attend.”      

Virginia HBPA Executive Director Glen Berman also spoke at the VRC meeting and said his group has secured a horsemen’s contract with Colonial heading into the 2026 season. He noted four key points in his presentation.

Stability, with48 race days spread between two seasons over five different months. 

Quality, with a Grade 1 Stakes leading the way. The Arlington Million will continue to anchor Colonial’s signature Festival of Racing card which produced a record $10.4 million wagering handle in 2025. Other graded stakes on the under card that day include the G2 Beverly D and G2 Secretariat. 

Investment, with infrastructure improvements in the paddock, turf course, irrigation system and handicap accessibility to some of the backstretch areas. Current pavers in the saddling paddock will be replaced with new ones — not just in the walking ring area but in paddock stalls and on the path to the track entrance/exit area. The paddock surface will also be excavated and backfilled, and additional drainage will be added. Turf course drainage in the east end of the track will be improved with plans to have that in place by 2027. The extra time will avoid any disruption during the upcoming season. The overall turf course irrigation system project is in its final phase and will be completed by race time. Improved wheelchair access to the paddock and backstretch areas like the race office and horsemen’s building will be in place for the meet as well. 

Growth, with flexibility to expand the number of racing dates in 2027 based on performance of Colonial’s Historical Horse Racing (HHR) terminals. There are currently 4,867 machines deployed at various Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums around the state including 1,650 at The Rose Gaming Resort & Hotel in Dumfries and 1,199 at the Richmond location. 

Berman also noted that horse shuttles will operate again on race days from Fair Hill, and possibly from Laurel on days when the Virginia and Maryland meets don’t overlap. Initially, Laurel’s spring schedule will conflict with the New Kent track’s slate on two days — March 13 & 14.  

Entries will again be taken one week in advance of each actual race day. For the spring meet, Hopf plans to open the stable area on Saturday March 7 with training available the next day. For the summer meet, the stable area will open two weeks out and stay open one week after the last race day. Training will be available seven days a week.  

Details on a plan for steeplechase racing in the 2026 summer meet are still being worked on. Options include continuing the program like this past season — where jump races took place on Thursday’s before the flat portion of  Colonial’s card began —  or running jump races on separate days away from flat race cards. The Virginia Gold Cup, which offers pari-mutuel wagering, was awarded their traditional dates at the VRC meeting. Their spring meet will take place on Saturday  May 2 and the fall session is slated for October 24.   

***************

Dr. Richard Harden, Long Time Virginia Equine Vet, Recognized at VRC Meeting 

Members of the Virginia Racing Commission recognized Dr. Richard Harden for over two decades of service to the Virginia Racing Commission and Virginia horse racing industry at its December meeting. 

Dr. Harden brought his extensive expertise as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine to the Commission, serving in critical roles including Commission Veterinarian and Equine Medical Director. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Harden was a steadfast advocate for the health, safety and welfare of the equine athlete, ensuring that the highest standards of veterinary care and integrity were maintained at Virginia’s racetracks. A proclamation was presented to Dr. Harden noting the Commission’s “appreciation for his years of faithful service and significant contributions to the horse racing industry in the Commonwealth.”    

Meet Peter Vegso, publisher of the popular “Chicken Soup for the Souls” series of books — and the winningest horse owner in Virginia Derby history. His powerhouse trio of homebred horses — Orchard Park, Silver Tree and Go Between — captured Virginia’s 3-year-old turf showcase at Colonial Downs in 2002, 2003 & 2006 respectively. Legendary trainer Bill Mott conditioned all three. Edgar Prado rode the first two to victory and Garrett Gomez was up for the latter. The 22ndedition of that race — now called the Old Dominion Derby — will be contested this Saturday at the New Kent track as the final event of a stakes-filled 10-race card. First post is 12 Noon.   

Vegso still has fond memories of Colonial Downs and that string of success. “I loved it. It’s a great track and I had a great time there obviously in terms of winning. I have so many wonderful memories.  Those three horses, they were three goodies and they all loved grass. I’ve always wanted to win the Triple Crown, and I feel like I’ve already won it in Virginia.”

Orchard Park is named after the town in Western New York where the Buffalo Bills football stadium is based. “I was up there on business and remember driving past the stadium and I just liked the name of the town. Orchard Park kicked off my run. He was special. He was one of my first ones that did really well. I was pretty excited about going to the Virginia Derby. He loved the grass and he loved coming from behind. And it was just the beginning of a good time.”

The son of Hennessy finished his career with six wins and purse earnings of $669,722. The Virginia Derby, which then had a purse of $500,000, capped off Orchard Park’s career.

Silver Tree, also a Hennessy horse, is named after a ski resort Vegso used to frequent. He accumulated 14 wins — six from graded stakes including the Fourstardave Handicap — and bankrolled over $1.7 million. “He is still at the farm enjoying life,” Vegso said. “He was a goodie and we had a great time with him.” 

“Go Between was an incredible horse that had his own unique running style,” said Vegso. “He let them hang out and then he’d come strong at the end and win by a nose. He’d get you excited every single time, including the Virginia Derby. He was an incredible horse.” When Go Between crossed first in the 2006 Virginia Derby, the purse was $1 million and the stakes had risen to a Grade 2 level.

After finshing fifth in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic — which was preceded by a Grade 1 win in Del Mar’s Pacific Classic —  Go Between died after a workout in January, 2009. “If he hadn’t have died, he’d have won the Breeders’ Cup that year,” added Vegso. “He loved artificial turf and would have thrived at Santa Anita in November.” 

A son of Point Given, Go Between ranked sixth in earnings of all horses that competed in 2008. He finished his career with eight wins from 22 starts and earnings of over $2.9 million.   

Asked if breeding all three of his Derby winners added any special meaning to the victories at Colonial Downs, Vegso replied, “I don’t think so. Winning a race like that, you can’t describe it. It’s like the best drug in the world, ever. I mean you feel like you’re in heaven. It’s just the greatest feeling when you win a race of that caliber. It’s indescribable.”   

Vegso’s farm is Ocala, Florida and over the years, his horses have made over 2,500 starts. He got involved in the business in 1988 when he and buddy bought a five percent share in a group of horses and one turned into a nice filly. “I just started moving up and getting more involved from that point. I started buying my own horses and bought the farm in 1993. We still breed, we train and we race. We haven’t had any great luck in a bit. It’s hard because you never know when luck is coming, when a horse is really going to do it. Horses that win these Grade 1 races really want to do it. They enjoy it. I keep looking for one. I want to do it. I love horses and I love being at the farm. It’s still my favorite place to be.”

Congratulations to Quest Realty’s Amrit who took top honors in the $40,000 Virginia Breeder’s Fund 2025 Yearling Futurity held August 24 at the Warrenton Horse Show Grounds. Winner of the Virginia-Bred/Sired colt & gelding class, Amrit advanced to the final round — as did the top two finishers from four different classes that morning — and was named Grand Champion by judge Cary Frommer. The champ is by Oscar Performance out of Jumpin’ Nancy by Jump Start. Interestingly, this marked the second straight year the Futurity Grand Champion was out of Jumpin’ Nancy — the 2024 winner was Paynted By Nancy.

Reserve Champion honors went to Althea Richards’ Snapadoodle who was runner-up in the Virginia-Bred/Sired fillies category earlier that morning. She is by Army Mule out of For Finery by Not For Love.       

The biggest field of competitors came from Snapadoodle’s class where a total of 13 fillies entered. The winner was South Gate Farm’s Un-named dark bown filly by Essential Quality out of Lorena by Souper Speedy. Third behind Snapadoodle was another from Any Moore’s South Gate Farm — an Un-named bay by Jackie’s Warrior out of Strong Beauty by Overanalyze. Fourth place went to Becky Lavin’s Un-named gray by Blofeld out of Falsehood by Awesome Again, followed by Morgan’s Ford Farm’s Un-named bay by Omaha Beach out of Florida Fuego by Kantharos, Lynn Ashby’s Shy Ice Tea by Frosted out of Shifra Magician by Street Magician, James Day/Daybreak Stables’ Un-named bay by Corniche out of Callipepla by Yes It’s True, and Morgan’s Ford Farm’s Un-named dark brown by Upstart out of Crabcakes by Great Notion. 

The balance of the Virginia-Bred/Sired Colt & Gelding finishers in order behind Amrit was Mojallali Stables’ Unrelenting U by Frosted out of Unshakable U by Bodemeister, Doug Daniels’ chestnut Sandbar Island by Kantharos out of Dialed Me Perfect by Dialed In, Sugarland Equine Etiquette’s Un-named dark brown by Rock Your World out of Hopeful Angel by Majestic Warrior, and Darlene Bowlin’s Blow Smoke by Blofeld out of Dixie Dazzle.

Virginia-Certified classes for resident yearlings have been added to the program in recent years. In this year’s colt & gelding category, owner Pat Neusch and breeder Forever Young Racing’s The Ridd was awarded first place. The chestnut is by By My Standards out of Irish Pharoah by American Pharoah. Next was DMC Racing Stables & Holly House Farm’s Derry Walls who was bred by James Steele. The runner-up is by Gormley out of Irish Gal by Cape Blanco. The rest of the field is all owned by Sugarland Equine Etiquette — an Un-named bay by Japanese-bred Yoshida out of Signify by Speightstown, an Un-named brown by Peace and Justice out of Map of America by Liam’s Map, and Preux Chevalier by Take Charge Indy out of Potiche by Dixie Union. The respective breeders of the trio include Winstar Farm, Sugarland Equine/Matty Thoroughbreds, and Pia Kirkham.

Chad Carter’s Un-named bay by McKinzie out of Light the Causeway by Giant’s Causeway took top honors in the Virginia-Certified Fillies class while Sugarland’s Un-named dark brown by Tonalist out of Adopted Kingdom by Animal Kingdom was second. The rest of the field respectively included Avram Freeberg’s Un-named brown by Nashville out of Senorita Guzman by Constitution, Sugarland’s Un-named chestnut by Uncle Lino out of La Duquesa by Poseidon’s Warrior, and Sugarland’s Un-named bay by Improbable out of North Broadway by Quality Road. The breeders of third thru fifth place finishers include Everything’s Cricket Racing, Joni Fontana and Winstar Farm.  

A total of 28 yearlings competed between the four classes and $30,000 in prize money was distributed — $7,500 per class. In addition, separate $5,000 bonus pools will be awarded after the participants’ three-year-old racing seasons in both the Virginia-Bred/Sired category and the Virginia-Certified category. The top four, based solely on earnings to that point, will share a percentage of their respective pool. Grooms of the category winners and Grand/Reserve champion horses received $100 each.